5 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Alleviate Pain

Whether it’s from a chronic condition like arthritis or a more acute injury, living with pain is, well, painful. It keeps us from the people and activities we love, and makes even simple tasks difficult to do. It can contribute to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and the physical limitations it places on us can lead to unintended weight gain and other health issues.

Many people opt to take over-the-counter or prescribed medication for pain relief because it’s a quick fix; unfortunately though, it’s only temporarily effective, and in the worst cases, can be addictive.

Thankfully, these pain solutions are both simple and effective, and when included as a part of a larger treatment and rehabilitation program, can help you get back to living the life you love.

Sip on a cup of green tea. If you’re an arthritis or joint-pain sufferer, curling up with a cup of green tea may help relieve some of your aches and pains. Science tells us that certain compounds in green tea may help block pain-causing molecules responsible for arthritis symptoms. Green tea is also loaded with antioxidants that help fight inflammation. Black, oolong, and white tea may also have some anti-inflammatory properties.

Add pain-relieving foods to your diet. The food we eat has a direct impact on how we feel both physically and mentally. Highly processed, high-sugar foods can make us feel sluggish, and also increase pain and inflammation. Cherries, ginger, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, salmon, turmeric, and olive oil on the other hand are loaded with pain-fighting properties that help curb inflammation and ease aching bones and joints.

Write in a journal. Stress has a big impact on the severity of our pain, and journaling is a great way to keep stress in check. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to jot down your thoughts, make a to-do list, vent your frustrations, or express a few small things you’re grateful for.

Watch or read something funny. Whether it’s the latest comedy or a humorous book, some studies have shown that getting in a good chuckle each day can help up your pain tolerance by boosting the production of feel-good chemicals in the brain called endorphins – your body’s natural painkillers.

Turn on the tunes. If you’re dealing with uncomfortable aches and pain, consider turning up the volume on some of your favorite songs. Research has shown that listening to music can lower pain intensity, simply by distracting you from it.